PSE&G still searching for radioactive tritium near Salem facility

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerRadioactive tritium was discovered earlier this week in two storm water basins outside PSE&G's Salem Unit 2 nuclear generating facility, pictured above on the right, next to Salem 1. LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK -- PSEG Nuclear is continuing to work with federal and state regulators to find the source of radioactive tritium discovered earlier this week in two storm water basins outside its Salem Unit 2 nuclear generating facility in Lower Alloways Creek Township.

"It’s not getting into the environment. The public is not in danger," Neil Sheehan, a spokesman for the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said today.

Tritium, a radioactive hydrogen isotope and by-product of nuclear fission, was detected Tuesday at 1.1 million picocuries per liter. The federal safety standard for drinking water is 20,000 picocuries per liter. But Sheehan said the tainted water found in the drainage basins has not leaked into the area groundwater nor washed into the nearby Delaware River.

PSEG Nuclear, a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., owns the Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek nuclear generating plants. The company says no traces of tritium were found in samples taken outside the plant’s discharge pipe at the river.

"We are very concerned and are working closely with PSEG as they investigate this matter," state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said. "Fortunately, it appears that the contaminated water is contained to the catch basins and has not gotten into ground water or the surrounding environment.

"Still, any leak of tritium is a concern. DEP’s radiation experts will play an important role in the investigation, providing advice and conducting independent sampling," he said.

The Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey Township, which had two tritium leaks last year, was dealing with its own troubles today. The NRC, during a routine maintenance check, uncovered a separation in what is known as a "stack line," a one-inch thick tube of stainless steel line that runs the length of the plant’s emission stack to monitor the output of radioactive gases from the plant.

The NRC contends that other, duplicative monitors are still able to check on gas emissions from the plant.